Ohio Dominican President and Task Force Receive OCPA Cultural Diversity Award
February 7, 2007
COLUMBUS, OHIO -- Ohio Dominican University President Jack Calareso, Ph.D. and the President’s Task Force on Multiculturalism have received the Ohio College Personnel Association’s Cultural Diversity Award.
The Cultural Diversity Award is presented annually by the OCPA to an individual and/or campus community that has successfully developed innovative courses, programs and/or services that promote multicultural understanding and appreciation across the curriculum and/or campus. The award is given to honor individual and/or community leadership in developing creative and effective programs that address and/or improve cultural diversity issues in higher education.
In response to a series of racially-motivated incidents on campus last fall, President Calareso appointed the President’s Task Force on Multiculturalism, headed by Judge Guy Reece of the Franklin County Court of Common Pleas, to examine the University’s curricular and co-curricular programs, organization and structure, residence life and campus environment, and policies and procedures, with the goal of identifying specific recommendations to address all areas of needed improvement concerning diversity and multiculturalism at the university. The Task Force was charged with analyzing data concerning recruitment, retention and the academic success of students, and will soon report its final recommendations to President Calareso. The following initiatives have already been implemented by both the President on behalf of the University and the Task Force on Multiculturalism as part of its efforts:
- Open dialogues and discussions between President Calareso and students, faculty, staff and student leaders, with the goal of allowing every voice to be heard and every perspective to be shared.
- A University-wide survey to assess campus climate opportunities and challenges.
- A Minority Retention grant proposal of $8,750 from the Ohio Foundation of Independent Colleges to implement a Diversity Forum Speakers Series to promote multicultural understanding and appreciation across the curriculum and/or campus.
- An International Education Week which provided a platform for discussion and debate on the challenging issues facing global communities across the world.
- A $1,000 reward for information leading to conviction of those responsible for campus vandalism, along with increased security patrols.
- A series of faculty/staff focus groups providing input regarding diversity issues on campus.
In a statement to the University community, President Calareso said, “Ohio Dominican University welcomes to its student body sincere seekers of truth whatever their age, gender, race, religious background, or ethnic and cultural heritage. As a Catholic and Dominican University, we cannot and will not tolerate discrimination and disrespect related to race, gender, ethnicity or religious preference.”
